Video Balun Frequently Asked Questions

Purpose

Why use video baluns? Normally, coaxial cable is used to carry video between the camera and the monitor. Substituting networking cable (Cat5 or Cat6) will allow for longer runs at a lower cost. Such video can be carried over long distances, as much as 6,000 ft. Each Cat5 cable contains 8 wires. Because video is sent in pairs, one Cat5 cable can support up to 4 cameras. If fewer cameras are needed, Cat5 wires can be used to carry power, so that cameras can be powered from far away.

Phone cable can be used instead of Cat5. Phone cables are like Cat5 cables but only have six wires (three pairs of two). A normal phone number and connection uses only one pair (two wires), leaving four more wires free. These four wires can be used to carry video. Phone cables have a tremendous advantage – wiring cost efficiency. Because phone cables are already integrated into a building's walls, all you have to do is unscrew the face plate, strip the phone cable wires, and connect it to the balun.

e.g. Cable Stripper

Speaking of wire stripping, most Cat5 and phone cable to balun connections will require wire stripping. Some fancy baluns have built in ports that allow easy connection directly from a cable with a connector; however, the more economical alternatives, the majority of baluns, require wire stripping and individual wire connection. Our cable wire stripper strips up to eight (Cat5) wires simultaneously.

Wire to Video Balun Connection

After stripping the wires, simply insert each wire into the corresponding wire slots in the video balun. A wiring guide is included with each of our baluns.

Video Balun Connectors: RJ-45, Terminal Block, and Screw Down Wiring

The RJ45 port is a standard connector used by Cat5 cables.
Terminal blocks, on the other hand, require wire stripping and individual wire insertion into the block wire openings. The advantage is flexibility in wiring, allowing more or fewer wires to be used for power. Terminal blocks use a spring and are easy to use.
Screw down wiring gives the advantages of terminal block wiring, but requires more effort.

RJ-45

Terminal Block

Screw Down

Power Transferring Video Baluns

Monitor-side baluns or bridges that support power will input 18V-24V DC from the wall. As the power travels towards the camera, naturally, this 18V current will degrade. On the camera-side balun, a power regulator will convert the higher current to 12V DC and feed it to the camera. Some baluns can pass AC power to the camera.

Active and Passive Video Baluns

Composite video signal normally carries a 1V peak to peak signal. Passive baluns do not alter the intensity of the signal, and merely transfers it from coaxial to Cat5 connectivity or vice versa. However, for long range applications, the signal will naturally degrade. Therefore, active baluns are useful for intensifying the signal and transmitting a stronger signal to the receiving balun. An active balun on the receiving side will receive a weakened signal and intensify it before sending it to the video surveillance appliance. The longest range active balun will boost the signal up to 5V. Active baluns come in long, medium, short, and adjustable ranges. A quality DVR machine can tolerate video signals ranging from 0.3V to 5.0V

Active and passive baluns can exist in three configurations:

Camera Side	Monitor Side	Description
Passive	Passive	No signal intensity change or amplification. 1,000 ft maximum distance.
Passive	Active	Receiving balun amplifies weakened signal and sends new stronger signal to surveillance device. 4,000 ft maximum distance.
Active	Active	Sending balun sends strengthened signal to receiving balun, which again strengthens the signal and sends to surveillance device. 6,000 ft maximum distance.

Video Balun Product Chart

Here is a listing of our baluns. Baluns can vary by Cat-5 connector, video connector, power capacity, and other features.

Part	Type	Side	Cat5 Connector	Video Connector	Power Output to Camera	Power from Cat5 Minimum	Power from Cat5 Maximum	Surge Protected	Integrated Cables
NVA-P-100	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	BNC Male
NVA-P-100-RK	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	BNC Male
NVA-P-101-RK	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-P-102-RK	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	F Male
NVA-P-103-RK	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	F Female
PIVB901-BP	Passive 1-port balun	Both	RJ45	BNC Male
PIVB901-BS	Passive 1-port balun	Both	RJ45	BNC Female
NVA-P-860-BP78	Passive 1-port balun	Both	RJ45	BNC Male
NVA-P-860-BS78	Passive 1-port balun	Both	RJ45	BNC Female
NVA-P-860-FS78	Passive 1-port balun	Both	RJ45	F Female
NVA-P-105-BP	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Screw	BNC Male
NVA-P-105-BS	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Screw	BNC Female
NVA-P-100-CABLE	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	BNC Female					Y
NVA-P-100-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Male					Y
NVA-P-100-SP	Passive 1-port balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female					Y
NVA-P-100-PW-SG	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Male				Y	Y
NVA-P-100-SP-SG	Passive 1-port balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female				Y	Y
NVA-501-W-KIT-1	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-501-W-KIT-2	Passive 1-port balun	Both	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-870-BS78-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Female	250mA	12V	18V
NVA-871-BS78-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Female	500mA	18V	24V
NVA-870-BS78-SP	Passive 1-port balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female
NVA-870-SP-SG	Passive 1-port balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female				Y
NVA-871-CAB-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Male	500mA	18V	24V		Y
NVA-871-PW-SG	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Male	500mA	18V	24V	Y	Y
NVA-P-201	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	BNC Female	500mA	18V	24V
NVA-P-201-ADA	Passive 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-P-201-ADASG	Passive 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female				Y
NVA-P-201-CABPW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	BNC Female	500mA	18V	24V		Y
NVA-P-201-PW-SG	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	BNC Female	500mA	18V	24V	Y	Y
NVA-875-BS78-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Female	500mA	18V	24V
NVA-P-301-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Female	750mA	18V	36V
NVA-P-311-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Female	750mA	18V	36V
NVA-P-305-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Female	1500mA	18V	36V
NVA-P-315-PW	Passive 1-port balun	Camera	RJ45	BNC Female	1000mA	18V	36V
RACK-016-45-SP	Passive 16-port Rackmount balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female
RACK-016-485-SP	Passive 16-port Rackmount balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female
RACK-016	Passive 16-port Rackmount balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female
RACK-200-810	Active 5-port Rackmount balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female
RACK-200-819	Active 9-port Rackmount balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female
PIVB862-BPC-AM	Active 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	BNC Male
PIVB862-BPM-AE	Active 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Male
NVA-A-100-C	Active 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	BNC Male
NVA-A-101-C	Active 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-A-102-C	Active 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	F Male
NVA-A-103-C	Active 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	F Female
NVA-A-100-M	Active 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Male
NVA-A-101-M	Active 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-A-102-M	Active 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	F Male
NVA-A-103-M	Active 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	F Female
NVA-A-201	Active 1-port balun	Camera	Terminal	BNC Female	500mA	18V	24V
NVA-A-201-ADA	Active 1-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female	500mA
NVA-300-4POWER	Passive 4-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-345-4POWER	Passive 4-port balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female
NVA-300-4P485	Passive 4-port balun	Camera	Terminal	Terminal
NVA-300-4P-RXTB	Passive 4-port balun	Both	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-300-4P-RXAE	Active 4-port balun	Monitor	Terminal	BNC Female
NVA-345-4P485	Passive 4-port balun	Camera	RJ45	Terminal
NVA-345-4P-RXTB	Passive 4-port balun	Both	RJ45	BNC Female
NVA-345-4P-RXAE	Active 4-port balun	Monitor	RJ45	BNC Female

Video Balun Wiring in General

Our baluns follow a standard coloring scheme. CAT5 wires are color-coded. Simply match the correct colors to each function - video, power, and RS485. This diagram will indicate which wires to use on each side. The important thing is to be consistent in the wiring.

Video Balun Wiring - with a Bridge

Here is an illustration of using a monitor balun, a balun bridge (our NVA-300-4P485 4-port bridge) , and powered camera baluns (our NVA-P-201 balun.) Many of our baluns are rack-mountable. Here is our rack mount guide.

PTZ control

Our 4 port balun bridge (part NVA-300-4P485 has RS485 input and output. This passes through the RS485 control signal used in PTZ cameras. PTZ allows for remote control of pan, tilt, and zoom.